Alexander Carlyle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Very Reverend
Alexander Carlyle
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Portrait of Rev. Alexander Carlyle, 1796, by Sir Henry Raeburn.
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| Born | 26 January 1722 Cummertrees, Dumfriesshire |
| Died | 28 August 1805 (aged 83) |
| Occupation | Church leader, autobiographer |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh; University of Glasgow; University of Leiden |
Alexander Carlyle (born January 26, 1722 – died August 28, 1805) was an important Scottish church leader. He was also known for writing his own life story. He served as the head of the Church of Scotland's main meeting, called the General Assembly, from 1770 to 1771.
Contents
Life of Alexander Carlyle
Early Life and Education
Alexander Carlyle was born on January 26, 1722, in a church house in Cummertrees, Scotland. His father, William Carlyle, was the local minister. In 1724, his family moved to Prestonpans.
Alexander went to school in Prestonpans. He then studied at Edinburgh University and Glasgow University. He finished his studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands. This university was famous for teaching Theology, which is the study of religious faith. He earned his Master of Arts degree from Edinburgh in 1743.
Witness to History: The Battle of Prestonpans
In 1745, Alexander Carlyle saw the aftermath of the Battle of Prestonpans. He was part of a group called the Edinburgh Volunteers, who supported the government. He had spent the night at his father's nearby house.
He missed the actual battle because it was over by the time he got ready. He went to help the wounded soldiers on the battlefield. He found the officers of the Highland army to be "gentleman-like and very civil."
Becoming a Church Leader
In July 1746, Alexander was allowed to preach as a Church of Scotland minister. He was first offered a job in Cockburnspath but turned it down. In February 1748, with help from the Duke of Buccleuch, he became the minister at Inveresk. He was officially made a minister there in August 1748.
From 1748 until his death, he served as the minister at Inveresk in Midlothian.
The Douglas Play Controversy
In 1756, Alexander Carlyle faced trouble from other church leaders. This was because he helped with a play called Douglas by John Home. He was involved in editing the play and its production in Edinburgh. He even attended its first performance on December 15, 1756.
Some church leaders were angry because they thought it was wrong for a minister to be involved with theatre.
Rising in the Church
Alexander Carlyle became very important in the Church of Scotland. He was a leader of the "moderate" or "broad" section of the church. This group believed in a more open and less strict approach to religion.
In 1760, he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from King's College, Aberdeen. This was a special award for his achievements. In 1770, he became the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. This was the highest position in the Church of Scotland for a year.
In July 1785, he was made Dean of the Chapel Royal. This was another important church role. In 1789, he was elected Principal Clerk of the General Assembly. He was known for working with Principal Robertson, another key church leader.
"Jupiter Carlyle" and His Autobiography
Alexander Carlyle had a very red face, which earned him the nickname Jupiter Carlyle. He wrote his life story, called an autobiography, in his later years. It was published in 1860.
Even though it only covers his life up to 1770, his autobiography is very interesting. It gives a clear picture of Scottish life, both social and church-related, in the 1700s. In his book, Carlyle wrote about the Porteous Riots of 1736. He also shared stories about his friendships with famous thinkers like Adam Smith and David Hume.
He was also a member of important groups like The Select Society and The Poker Club. In November 1783, he was a founding member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
Death
Alexander Carlyle passed away on August 25, 1805. He was buried in the Inveresk churchyard on August 28.
Family
In October 1760, Alexander Carlyle married Mary Roddam. She was born in 1743 and died in 1804. Her family was from Heathpool in Northumberland.
Alexander and Mary had three daughters and one son. Sadly, all of their children died when they were young. When Alexander Carlyle died, he left his belongings to his nephew, Carlyle Bell.
See also
